Originally Posted By Pain:If you want it light, them I'd have no rail, no light and find a skinny 14.5 inch barrel. Have a flash hider pinned and welded in place to make the length legal. Run irons or a tiny optic.

Keep it simple and the gun will weigh 6-7 LBS. The more stuff you add, adds weight.

This.

The DD 1.5 rear sight is pretty light. You may be even able to find an old Colt BCG with the back rear removed to go even lighter.

I have no time for gun shop lore, myths & legends, and just plain nonsense.

If I was to build the lightest milspec AR15 possible (reliable and durable) under the below requirements, what would that be?

16" Barrel with flash hider lightweight profile, cut pin and weld 14.5" for even lighterSemi Auto Receiver .223/5.56 They're all really the same, just stay away from billetQuadrail Forearm DD are light. KAC URX is light. Look at something like the Troy tube for even lighterLight System SF x300 or m300a Scout, or a TLR-1Red Dot Optic Aimpoint T-1 micro in a DD mountBUIS sight system (cowitnessing with red dot) KAC Micro sights, pricey but light, DD 1.5 if you have a fixed FSPPolymer magazine Don't know what's "lightest", just find reliable, they all weight about the sameSling Don't worry about weight, find one that's comfortable and it'll make it feel lighter slung.

You're basically looking at any number of standard ARs.

Please, call me Joe

There is definitely something perverse about two men who carry guns 24/7 being so happy that others are giving theirs up. -happycynic

Originally Posted By Pain:If you want it light, them I'd have no rail, no light and find a skinny 14.5 inch barrel. Have a flash hider pinned and welded in place to make the length legal. Run irons or a tiny optic.

Keep it simple and the gun will weigh 6-7 LBS. The more stuff you add, adds weight.

Originally Posted By Pain:If you want it light, them I'd have no rail, no light and find a skinny 14.5 inch barrel. Have a flash hider pinned and welded in place to make the length legal. Run irons or a tiny optic.

Keep it simple and the gun will weigh 6-7 LBS. The more stuff you add, adds weight.

Start adding optics, rail and light, it fattens up fast. Too keep it light though, an Aimpoint T1 is 3oz, LT T-1 mount is ~ 2 oz., SF X300 is 3.8 ounces, and a DD EZ-CAR is 9.1 oz. Subtract 6.85 oz. for the MOE handguard, and all that will add 11 oz. to the gun for a total weight of about 6.3 lbs. Those parts will run around $1,100 - making something light usually isn't cheap. You could shave a couple ounces off the gun by keeping the MOE handguard with an accessory rail to mount the X300, and save about $150 in the process. Weight would be around 6.1 lbs. Cost for the rifle and accessories would be in the neighborhood of $1,900.

Difference between a 14.5" and 16" LW barrel is negligible - just a couple ounces. Not worth it IMO. Better to have the ability to remove the FH further down the road IMO.

Originally Posted By Pain:If you want it light, them I'd have no rail, no light and find a skinny 14.5 inch barrel. Have a flash hider pinned and welded in place to make the length legal. Run irons or a tiny optic.

Keep it simple and the gun will weigh 6-7 LBS. The more stuff you add, adds weight.

A TRX tube, or a Daniel Defense Light rail is going to be about the same weight as standard M4 handguards when you add the heavier barrel nut, delta ring assembly and hand guard caps. Using a longer rail and chopping the front sight base or using a low pro gas block will reduce weight even more. An Aimpoint Micro and mount can't be much more than the big chunk of aluminum in the carry handle and sight.